Accelerometric Changes before and after Capacitive Resistive Electric Transfer Therapy in Horses with Thoracolumbar Pain Compared to a SHAM Procedure.
Authors: Argüelles David, Becero Mireya, Muñoz Ana, Saitua Aritz, Ramón Toni, Gascón Eduard, Sánchez de Medina Antonia, Prades Marta
Journal: Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
Summary
# Editorial Summary Radiofrequency therapy at 448 kHz, known as capacitive resistive electric transfer (CRET), has shown promise in enhancing muscular flexibility in human athletes, prompting researchers to investigate whether similar benefits apply to horses suffering thoracolumbar pain. Nineteen sport horses in active training and competition were randomised to receive either four CRET sessions over two weeks (n=9) or an identical sham procedure (n=9), with clinical examination and accelerometric analysis conducted before and after treatment to measure changes in spinal biomechanics and pain scores. Horses treated with CRET demonstrated significantly increased dorsoventral power (p<0.002), mediolateral and total power output (p<0.01)—objective accelerometric markers suggesting improved thoracolumbar flexibility—whilst the sham group showed no such changes; CRET-treated animals also experienced a one-degree reduction in thoracolumbar pain (p=0.002) and a two-degree reduction in epaxial muscle pain (p=0.03). The sham group showed minimal change in thoracolumbar pain and only a one-degree reduction in epaxial pain, establishing a clear treatment effect beyond placebo. For equine practitioners managing performance horses with back pain, these findings suggest CRET may offer a practical tool to enhance spinal mobility and reduce pain without interrupting training schedules, though the modest pain improvements warrant consideration alongside conventional rehabilitation protocols.
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Practical Takeaways
- •CRET therapy may offer a non-invasive option to reduce thoracolumbar pain and improve back flexibility in sport horses, with measurable biomechanical changes detected by accelerometry
- •Treatment effect appears specific to CRET rather than placebo, as SHAM controls showed no accelerometric improvements and smaller pain reductions
- •Horses tolerated CRET well during active training and competition, suggesting it could integrate into management protocols for performance horses with back pain
Key Findings
- •CRET therapy increased dorsoventral power (p < 0.002), mediolateral and total power (p < 0.01) in treated horses, indicating increased back flexibility
- •Thoracolumbar pain decreased by one degree after CRET (p = 0.002) compared to no change in SHAM controls
- •Epaxial muscle pain decreased by two degrees after CRET (p = 0.03) versus one degree in SHAM group (p = 0.01)
- •SHAM group showed no improvements in accelerometric power measurements despite minor reduction in epaxial pain